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(NewsNation) — This week, Michelle Obama announced her new podcast, “IMO” (short for “In My Opinion“), which she is co-hosting with her brother, Craig Robinson.
She also unveiled a new, sleek and refreshed look in her new headshots.
I spoke with three plastic surgeons who weighed in on the former first lady’s look — and all agreed she had some help to look this great.
Plastic surgeons raved over Michelle Obama
Jon Turk, a top NYC based plastic surgeon raved over Obama’s news fresh face, saying she’d obviously lost some weight and added, “She looks like she had some minimally invasive treatments such as Botox for the forehead, Morpheus 8 (a laser treated ent) to tighten the skin and possibly a modest amount of fillers in the cheeks and jawline for facial balancing.”
San Francisco-based surgeon, Corey Maas, MD, FACS, agreed with Turk (although he said Obama possibly used the Kardashian favored ultrasound/collagen rebuilding therapy Sofwave) and added: “In recent photos, her skin appears tighter and more contoured, especially around the jawline and cheeks, leading to speculation about a facelift or other cosmetic enhancements. However, it’s also worth noting that she seems to have lost some weight, which can naturally enhance facial contours and define the jawline. Additionally, her hair is pulled back tightly in a ponytail, which can further accentuate facial features and give a subtle lifting effect.”
Maas continued: “Overall, the changes (in Obama’s appearance) could be the result of a combination of minor cosmetic treatments, weight loss, and styling choices. In this attractive woman, small changes makeup and some weight loss can explain the differences we are observing.”
Michelle Obama’s new podcast
Meanwhile, I am hearing the reason Obama skipped former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, in addition to some elective procedures, was she was gearing up for the podcast and taping with her brother. (She was never planning on attending Donald Trump’s inauguration).
The podcast, which premiered Wednesday, sees Obama discuss her relationship with her husband, former President Barack Obama, with Craig and guests like Issa Rae, Tyler Perry, Seth Rogen and Jay Shetty.
Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks onstage at the Clooney Foundation for Justice Inaugural Albie Awards at New York Public Library on Sept. 29 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Albie Awards) 
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: Michelle Obama walks onstage during The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times – in Conversation with Michelle Obama at YouTube Theater on December 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for ABA) 
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 26: Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks ahead of the arrival of Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign rally at the Wings Event Center on October 26, 2024 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Vice President Harris will be campaigning today with former first lady Michelle Obama in the battleground swing state of Michigan. With 10 days remaining, Harris continues campaigning against Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the November 5 election. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) 
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 20: Former U.S. President Barack Obama (L) greets former first lady Michelle Obama as he arrives to speak on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic Party supporters are gathering in Chicago, as current Vice President Kamala Harris is named her party’s presidential nominee. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 
FILE – Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks at a campaign rally for democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the Wings Event Center, in Kalamazoo, Mich., Oct. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
Rumors have been flying that she and Barack, who have been married for 32 years and are parents of daughters Sasha and Malia, are having difficulties (I am assured their marriage is fine and strong), but she did talk about the rough roads they navigated in the past.
Michelle told Craig about the first big trial — when Barack decided to run for president.
“Being married to the president of the United States [is a] thing that that none of us kind of banked on. We knew Barack was smart and ambitious, but, you know,” she said, before confirming it was Craig who convinced her to support Barack in his presidential ambitions.
“You talked me into supporting his run,” Michelle said. “He was smart enough to know that he needed to come to you and sell you on the idea. Because I was definitely like, ‘No, no way,'” she said.
Obama’s production company, Higher Ground
As I reported earlier, the Obamas have had trouble breaking into Hollywood fully.
Their production company, Higher Ground, received a $65 million production deal from Netflix, but not much has taken off.
The couple produced “Leave the World Behind” with Julia Roberts (which reviewers on Reddit called “hot garbage”), and other projects such as Netflix’s “Later Daters,” “Ruston” and “Your Mama’s Kitchen” also failed to take off.
Michelle also launched a “healthy” soda company, Plezi, shocking fans in September when she showed up at a Northern California Costco, dancing and shilling the beverage.
Fingers crossed “IMO” does better.